Thousands marched on Paris's streets on Saturday to honor the life of slain gay activist Clement Meric, 18, who died last week after severe violence from far-right militants fatally damaged his brain.

Clement was a political science student at Sciences Po. He was involved in a fight that broke out between two groups of people Wednesday night in Paris. The fight has been pegged to tensions across France after the government established legal marriage equality.

Prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters that he had sought a murder investigation against the suspect, identified as a security guard named Esteban, according to the Associated Press. Late Saturday, Molins' attempt to launch a murder investigation was rejected by a judge. Instead, Esteban has been preliminarily charged with "deadly blows," or violence leading to death without intention to kill. He could face 15 years in prison.

The others involved in the attack may also be charged with group violence. Another suspect, a 32-year-old woman named Katya, was handed preliminary charges for complicity in group violence.